Tom’s Guide’s September 22, 2026 article ranks seven iPhone Duo trade-offs, but the available article text does not include reader replies or a tally of who plans to buy. Its “dealbreakers” are the author’s judgments, not a reader poll. The most prominent concern in Mark Spoonauer’s assessment is the lack of a dedicated telephoto camera; whether it matters to you depends on how you use your phone.
What the “dealbreaker” framing does—and doesn’t—show
Mark Spoonauer’s Tom’s Guide article asks readers whether any iPhone Duo trade-offs are dealbreakers and whether they plan to buy. That invitation is not evidence of what readers answered: the available article text establishes neither actual comments nor a response count. It would therefore be misleading to say readers have reached a consensus or to put a reader’s words in quotation marks.
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Spoonauer cautions against treating every missing feature as equally important: “What annoys me is that people are already lumping all of the missing features and trade-offs into a list of ‘dealbreakers’ as if they’re all of equal value.” The seven points below are best read as his editorial assessment, not measured rankings of buyer priorities.
The seven trade-offs, and who is most likely to care
1. No dedicated telephoto lens
This is Spoonauer’s strongest concern, scored 8/10 in his article. Tom’s Guide reports that the Duo’s 2x “optical-quality” zoom is cropped from its 48MP main camera rather than produced by a dedicated telephoto lens, and that digital zoom tops out at 10x. Spoonauer contrasts this with the iPhone 18 Pro models. If you regularly photograph distant subjects, a dedicated telephoto camera may matter more than the other compromises on this list.
#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
2. Touch ID instead of Face ID
The article reports that the Duo uses Touch ID in its power button rather than Face ID, and scores this trade-off 7/10. Whether that is a drawback is personal: it depends on which unlock method you prefer and how you use your phone. Spoonauer’s preference for Face ID is opinion, not the result of a comparative test cited in the article.
3. Greater weight than the cited alternatives
Tom’s Guide reports the iPhone Duo at 8.96 ounces, compared with 8.78 ounces for the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 7.09 ounces for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. These are the weights reported in Spoonauer’s 2026 article. A difference that looks small on paper can matter if you carry a phone for long periods or prioritize a lighter device.
Rank #2
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000nits (typ), 2000nits (HBM), 2556x1179px at 460ppi, 3561mAh Battery
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz), Apple GPU 5-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
4. A high starting price, with steeper storage upgrades
Tom’s Guide reported a $1,999 starting price, with configurations listed at $2,200 for 512GB, $2,599 for 1TB, and $3,200 for 2TB. These are time-sensitive prices from the article, not a guarantee of current pricing or availability. Consider the configuration you would actually need: the starting price alone does not describe the cost of a higher-capacity model.
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The article relays Apple’s estimates of up to 24 hours of regular use for the Duo and 30 hours for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. For video playback, the reported estimates are 31 hours and 45 hours, respectively. Tom’s Guide also reports up to 44 hours for the Duo when using its small display. These are manufacturer estimates, not independent test results; they should not be treated as a promise of real-world battery life.
Rank #3
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
6. An under-display front camera
Spoonauer discusses the Duo’s under-display FaceTime camera and recommends using the front or rear camera for selfies. That is the author’s assessment of the camera trade-off, not a documented reader complaint or a published test result in the available article text. It is most relevant if selfie quality or frequent video calls are a priority for you.
7. Fewer advanced camera controls
The article notes the absence of variable aperture and Pro controls such as shutter-speed and white-balance control. If you want to adjust those settings manually, that omission may be significant. If you mostly take pictures using automatic settings, it may have little effect on your decision. The article does not establish how many buyers care about these controls.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
How to decide which trade-off is yours
Start with the compromises that affect your everyday use, rather than treating Spoonauer’s scores as a universal ranking. Ask yourself:
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- Do you strongly prefer Face ID over Touch ID in a power button?
- Will the reported weight matter during long periods of one-handed use or carrying?
- What storage configuration would you need, and does its reported price fit your budget?
- Are Apple’s reported battery estimates relevant to your routine, while recognizing they are not independent results?
- How much do selfie and video-call quality, variable aperture, and manual camera controls matter to you?
One of these may outweigh several others. The article supports a discussion of the device’s reported compromises and Spoonauer’s priorities; it does not support a claim about what Tom’s Guide readers as a group have decided.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 2532x1170px at 460ppi, 4005mAh Battery
- 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- Connectivity: Global 4G LTE, Sub-6 GHz 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Wireless Charging (7.5W). (does not have mmWave 5G or MagSafe or physical SIM card) - Dual eSIM Only
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
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